Moot Court Competitions
Penn Law student participate in numerous moot court competitions locally and across the country.
Below is a listing of several different moot court competitions by upcoming deadline. Please note, those entries with blank dates have yet to announce their next competition. For more information about upcoming moot court competitions, as well as advice for moot court competitors, see The Bench Brief.
Upcoming Deadlines
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29th Annual Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition
This year, the competition will take place from February 27, 2021 – March 1, 2021. The registration fee is $300 per team. Registration will open on September 30, 2020. Further information, including the link to the registration site, will be available on this page.
The American Bankruptcy Institute Endowment Fund will present the following awards to the winners:
$5,000 to the first-place team
$3,000 to the second-place team
$1,500 to the two third-place teams
$1,000 each for Best Oralist and Best Brief
Register here.
Deadline: September 30, 2020 -
National Online Moot Court Competition
September 1: Problem released. Please view problem here.
September 17: Entry fee payment deadline
October 15: Deadline for teams to provide brief grader and oral argument judges
November 2: Brief deadline
January 7: Drawing and Announcement of Brackets
January 13-15: Preliminary Rounds
January 20: Octofinal Rounds
January 21: Quarterfinal Rounds
January 22: Semifinal Rounds
January 23: Final RoundRegister here.
Deadline: November 2, 2020
Past Deadlines
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2020 National Veterans Law Moot Court Competition
Dates:
September, 13, 2020 - Registration Deadline (both form and fee)
November 7-8, 2020 - Virtual Preliminary and Quarterfinal
November 14-15, 2020 - Funded Live Semifinals and Finals U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, Washington, DC
Awards:
Recognition is given to the Championship Team, Best Oral Advocate, Best Petitioner’s Brief, and Best Respondent’s Brief.
To Register for this event, please click here.
Deadline: September 13, 2020 -
Annual Thurgood Marshall Memorial Moot Court Competition
The Younger Lawyers Division of the Federal Bar Association is pleased to announce the Annual Thurgood Marshall Memorial Moot Court Competition, which will be held on March 18-19, 2020, in Washington, D.C. This year is particularly special in that it marks the 25th anniversary of the Competition and the Centennial Celebration of the Federal Bar Association.
Registration & Entry Fee Deadline: January 8, 2020
Problem and rules distributed: January 13, 2020
Briefs due (must be received by): February 14, 2020
Oral Argument: March 18-19, 2020
Awards Ceremony and Reception: March 19, 2020
Deadline: March 18, 2020 -
The Jeffrey G. Miller National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition (NELMCC)
Date: February 20-22, 2020
Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel in White Plains, New York
Deadline: February 20, 2020 -
Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts
Annual Law Student Writing CompetitionTOPIC: Should judges be permitted to speak out on their
decisions? Describe and support your position.
WHO: 2L or 3L students
FORMAT: 2,300 to 2,700 word essay
DEADLINE: February 7, 2020
SUBMIT: writingcontest@pmconline.orgDeadline: February 7, 2020 -
The Closer National Transactional Law Competition
Now in its fourth year, Baylor Law’s The Closer is one of the nation’s premier transactional law competitions. In this unique and innovative competition, students from participating schools vie to win a total of $10,000 in top prizes and bragging rights as a top closer.
INVITATION ONLY: Limited to Law Schools That Have Demonstrated a Commitment to Excellence in Transactional Law Training
Award: $10,000 PRIZE, Divided Between Top 2 Closers
ONE COMPETITOR Per School
TRANSACTION PROBLEM: Disclosed 24 Hours Prior to Competition
Competition Date: January 16-19, 2020
Deadline: January 16, 2020 -
Artificial Intelligence Writing Competition
The CENTER FOR LEGAL AND COURT TECHNOLOGY (CLCT) is pleased to announce its third annual writing competition dedicated to innovative legal issues likely to arise from Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and/or related technologies.
Award: Judges will select the best entries that creatively and innovatively address these criteria. Prizes will be awarded as follows:
First place: U.S. $2,500
Second place: U.S. $1,500
Third place: U.S. $1,000Date: Submissions will be accepted now through December 20, 2019.
Deadline: December 20, 2019 -
National Entertainment Law Moot Court 20th Annual Competition
Date: November 16-17, 2019
Location: Malibu, CA
Deadline: November 16, 2019 -
The Third Annual Ellen A. (Nell) Hennessy Employee Benefits Moot Court Competition
Date and Location of Competition:
*Saturday, February 22, 2020
*Columbus School of Law,
3600 John McCormack Road, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20064
Registration Fee and Deadline:
*Deadline for Registration: Friday, November 8, 2019 (Registration accepted on rolling basis)
*Final Date for Withdrawal: Friday, January 17, 2020
(After this date, we are unable to refund registration fees.)
*Registration Fee: $400 per team (plus non-refundable 3% credit card fee)
**A school may enter up to two teams consisting of at least two members and up to three members each, but only two may argue during any one session. An additional (third) team may be considered as space allows.
Expected Schedule:
*Problem and Program Rules Release Date: Friday, November 15, 2019
*Competitor Briefs Due: Friday, January 17, 2020
Program Contact:
*Columbus School of Law: Moot Court Vice Chancellor, Willistine Harris, cua.hennessymootcomp@gmail.com
Deadline: November 12, 2019 -
NAAC Moot Court Competition
The ABA Law Student Division National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC) is a moot court competition that emphasizes the development of oral advocacy skills through a realistic appellate advocacy experience. Moot court competitors participate in a hypothetical appeal to the United States Supreme Court. The competition involves writing a brief as either respondent or petitioner and then arguing the case in front of the mock court.
Entry Deadline: November 1, 2019
2019-20 NAAC Dates and Locations
2019-20 Topic: TBD
Please send any questions to competitions@americanbar.org
Deadline: November 1, 2019 -
2019 National Veterans Law Moot Court Competition
Key Dates:
9/15/19: Registration Deadline (both form and fee)
9/18/19: Problem Release
10/13/19: Brief Due (Only one brief is required per team; side is assigned randomly.)
11/2/19: Two Preliminary Rounds (one “on” and the other “off” brief), Quarterfinals, and Reception at GW Law, 2000 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20052
11/3/19: Semi-final and Final Rounds held at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, 625 Indiana Avenue, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20004
Award: Recognition is given to the Winning Team, Best Oral Advocate, Best Petitioner’s Brief, and Best Respondent’s Brief.
Dates: November 2-3, 2019
Deadline: September 15, 2019
Congratulations to Anna-Lisa Macon and Brittney Denley, who are the 2015 Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition Champions for BLSA's Mid-Atlantic Region!